Chapter 27 - Anton

Jax couldn’t have gone far. I knew he ran this way. As I scanned the crowd, I noticed a guy walking away quickly. He was basically through the crowd. I would have to move around if I intended to catch up.

Moving around the crowd of people, I saw him going down an alleyway. Knowing I would never catch him if I followed directly, I sprinted through the closest alleyway. I had to cut him off. As I ran, I stepped into a couple of puddles, hoping it was water and not something else.

I could hear the splattering of my footsteps echo off the walls as I moved. Ahead of me was the first turn to the left and a little way further another. Hoping to get to him in time, I moved faster, wanting to get to the next turn quicker. I felt my leg muscles starting to burn from the exertion, but there was no time to worry about it.

Reaching the turn, I took it without hesitation and almost slipped. Keeping myself up, I ran down the alley. I was about halfway through when I saw Jax passing. He was but a couple of steps ahead of me.

Giving it all I had, I lunged at him, tackling him to the ground. We landed with a loud thud. Placing a knee on his back, I pulled his arm back as I spoke. “Jax, I know you have no reason to trust me. I just want to talk; I don’t want to hurt you.”

Jax scoffed at my words and replied arrogantly. “Why should I talk to you? You have nothing I want.”

Letting out a small sigh, I continued in a calm tone. “I care for Joyce and want only the best for her.”

“Get off me,” he spat, shifting left and right.

Letting go, I got up and waited for him to get to his feet. He glanced at me as he laughed. It was a horrid sound, like metal scraping against metal. After bursting into laughter, he spoke abruptly. “How could someone like you care for her? You’re a monster like me. What kind of life will she have?”

I inhaled deeply, trying hard to keep my cool and push my anger back down. I had to keep myself in check for Joyce. I had promised her. After calming myself internally, I spoke again. “Jax, you are not wrong. I am a monster. But I’m not like you, and I care deeply for Joyce. I hope you do, too, as I have a proposal for you.”

Jax looked at me suspiciously. After a bit, he slowly nodded as he spoke. “Go on, say what you have to say.”

Staring at him, I could see a faint resemblance. This proved that they were family, but did he hold the kind of compassion Joyce had? “Right, here it is then,” I said. “I want you to consider leaving the current family you are working for and joining us. We can offer you protection. We want you to stay out of this fight for Joyce’s sake.”

He stood glaring at me. I was sure he was processing my words. As he spoke again, I could hear deep sadness in his tone. “Will you take care of Joyce and guarantee her safety?”

I was shocked by the care I saw in his eyes, and he replied honestly. “Yes, I will ensure nothing happens to her. So, do we have a deal?”

Jax replied, nodding. “Sure, I’ll stay out of this fight.”

Relief ran through me. Knowing he did care for her and would step back was good. Before everything had settled in my mind, Jax pulled a knife and charged at me.

Blocking his first strike, I couldn’t help but wonder if he truly cared. He moved without a hassle, swerving around me as he stabbed again. He moved like a professional. I was sure there was a lot Joyce didn’t know about this man.

I observed his moves as I blocked another one. His strikes were accurate and had a lot of force behind them. The fourth one lightly grazed my side. I felt my hot blood drizzling down my side as my skin flamed up. I hissed as another one cut my arm.

This wasn’t going to work. I knew I had promised Joyce, but he was not going to let me take him in alive. I repeated my promise to her so many times in my head that it quickly became a mantra.

I had to try, so I blocked him left and right, waiting for an opening to get one shot at his jaw. As we moved, he chuckled. He was arrogant. After failing at disarming him a couple more times, I knew there was no other way. He appeared to be a master at wielding a knife.

My muscles started aching from the exertion and multiple cuts. Jax came at me again. In that moment, I tried grabbing his hand as he stabbed again. I wanted to pull him to the ground, but the blade slid into my side. My mind blanked out as pain shot through me like a bullet.

Moving like lightning, I grabbed his hand, twisted it, and pushed with all my might. I felt the hot liquid flowing over my hands. Letting go, I stepped back as Jax sunk to the ground.

I stood frozen for a second as I came back to my senses and saw what I had done. Jax lay on the ground as his blood pooled around him. I felt dread sneaking in and filling me. How was I going to explain this to Joyce? I broke my promise to her, and I betrayed her.

Staggering backward, I pushed my hands into my hair and went down on my knees. I played it over and over in my mind, trying to see if I could have done it differently. I should have realized a guy like him had other plans.

Before properly sorting through my emotions, I heard footsteps coming at me quickly. Jumping to my feet, I swung around ready to fight whoever was coming. I lowered my fists as I saw Joyce running to me.

Grabbing her around the waist, I held her tightly as I pulled her with me to the ground. “I’m so sorry,” I kept repeating as tears softly ran down my cheeks. I felt her stiffen as she looked over my shoulder.

Joyce took my face in her hands and kissed me gently. “This is not your fault. He would have killed you,” she said, taking my hands and looking at the cuts. She paused and examined me before continuing. “I couldn't bear losing you.”

I let out a short, painful breath before taking her hand as she rose. I felt a bit lightheaded and only then realized how many cuts I had. Joyce gasped as she lifted my shirt. “Put pressure on your side,” she huffed, taking out her phone and dialing Abram.

He answered quickly. “Please, you have to come help,” she said, holding me up. I didn’t argue as my vision blurred in and out of focus. I could hear in her tone she was worried.

There was a noise and then I felt arms around me. “We have to get him to a hospital,” Joyce said to someone.

“No, we have a good house doctor,” I recognized that voice. It was Alexandr. “I’ll send men to clean up as well, let’s go,” he added as he dragged me to the van.